Electric switch



Patented Oct. 11, 1921.l

A TTR/VEVS UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

WILLIAM DAN THROOP, 0F NOBWICH, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specication of VLetters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

Appllcationrled April 6, 1920. Serial No. 371,690. I

va new and Improved' Electric Switch, of

which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches, and A moreparticularly to an improved construction of pendent switch, an object ofthe invention being to provide such a switch with a longitudinallymovable slide member-which, when operated, causes the switch controllingdevices to quickly move from one position to another.

A further object is to provide an improved construction of pendentswitch .embodying certain elements of my improved electric switchdisclosed in my'application for patent, Serial Number 337 3611,v filedNovember 11, 1919.

With these and other` objects in View the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements ofparts, as will be more fully hereinafter described and 'pointed out inthe claims. i

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a view in elevation with thecasing removed.

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section throu h the casing showing inelevation the opposite side of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1. y

ig. 4 is a view in transverse section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2,/butshowing the casing in position.

1 and 2 represent the two halves of a supporting block A which may be ofporcelain or any other suitable non-conducting material, and theseblocks are held in proper relation to each other by means of transversepins 3.

Itis, of course, to be Aunderstood that while I have illustrated thesupporting block as of two parts, it may constitute a single integralpart if desired, and I shall, for convenience of description, refer tothe supporting block as a single part.

The block A is provided -at its respective ends with pairs of springcontacts 4 spaced apart and electrically connected with binding posts 5on the ends ofthe blocks. These contacts 4 are preferablyw made ofspring strip" metal secured at one end 'and at their other ends bentupon themselves and forming spring tongues 6 having angular bentportions 7 forming flared entrances for contact blocks 8, the lattermounted on a sliding plate 9.

The plate 9 is preferably of Iiber or other non-conducting material andis provided 0n its inner face with a bracket 10. This bracket 10 ismovable in a recess 11 in the supporting block A and the latter is alsomade with a transverse openin 12 communieating Vwith saidrecess. Theracket 10 has inwardly projecting lugs 13 and 14: at its respective endsand a bail 15 at its free end, which constitutes its intermediateportion, is positioned between the lugs 13 and 14 and is adapted lwhenswung from one position to the other, to move the plate 9longitudinally. The-bail 15 is provided at its ends with laterallyprojecting trunnions 16 which are positioned in the ends of recesses 17;land pivoted therein. A transversely curved plate 18 is mounted to slidein a longitudinal. groove 19 in the outer face of the block A 'andthrough this plate 18 the shank 20 of my improved sliding button 21i'sprojected and may be secured if desired. 'The inner end of the shank20 is connected by a coiled spring 22 with the free end of the bail 15so that when the button is moved longitudinally from one position to theother, it will, through the medium of the spring. 22, throw the bailfrom one extreme position to another as will-be readily understood.

The block A is of general cylindrical form and can be convenientlyinclosed in a two part cylindrical casing B of the general size andshape employed in connection with the ordinary type of pendent' switch.The ordienlargements 24 on the block 'A and the terminals 5 are carriedby angle brackets 25, the latter secured to the block A by means ofscrews 26, said screwsalso operating to clamp the electric contacts V4in proper position as said contacts 4 may constitute extensions or fixedparts of metal plates 27 located under the angle brackets 25.V

The casing B is provided with a longitudinal slot 28 through which theshank 20 of the button 21 projects and is movable, and it will be notedby reference to F ig. 2, that the lugs 13 and 14 are spaced apart adistance sullicient to permit of a certain amount of pivotal movement ofthe bail 15 without operating the plate 9. Hence, the plate is not moveduntil the button 21 is moved far enough' to place the spring 22 undertension and the spring, as it contracts, will quickly throw flthe switchfromopen to closed position and vice versaQA The operation is asfollows: When the button 21 is moved from one position to another, itsfirst operation is to swing the end of the spring 22 past the pivotalconnection of the trunnions 16 in the ends of the recesses 17, andin sodoing, the spring will be put under tension and will quickly swing theail 15 to-its other extreme position. This movement of the bail 15 willcause the plate 9 to move longitudinally by reason of the fact that thebail engages the bracket 10, or more particularly the inwardlyprojecting lugs 13 and 14 on the bracket. When the plate 9 is in oneextreme position, the contact blocks 8 will be in engagement with thecontacts 4, and as the latter are of spring metal, a wiping contactengagement' is assured -at each operation to insure a perfect closing ofthe electric circuit. v

When the plate 9 is moved to its other extreme position, it is moved outof engagementl with the contacts aand, as above explained, said contactsare in the form of spring tongues with angular portions 7 providingliared entrances for the blocks 8 so as to guide the parts kinto properengagement at all times. s

Various slight changes might be made in the gefneral form andarrangement of parts described without departing from the invention; fand hence I do not limit myself to the precise detailsset forth, butconsider myselffat liberty to make such changes and alterations asfairly fall within the 'spirit and 'scope of the appended claims.-

1. pendent switch, comprising -a supporting block of non-conductingmaterial, two pairs of electric contacts on said block, a sliding plateof non-conducting material guided on the block, contact blocks carriedby the plateand movable into engagement with the contacts, a slidingbutton `having longitudinal movement relative to the block and at oneside thereof and having spaced relationship to the block, a pivoted bailengaging the plate, and a spring connecting the free end of the bailwith said button.

l2. A pendent switch, comprising a supporting block of non-conductingmaterial, two pairs of spring contacts supported on the block, alongitudinally movable plateguided on the block,said plate ofnon-conducting material, contact blocks on the plate movable into andout of engagement with the contacts, said supporting block having atransverse opening, a bail pivotally supported in the walls of saidopening and at its intermediate portion engaging the plate, a slidingbutton having longitudinal movement relative to the block and at oneside thereof and having spaced relationship to the block, and a springconnecting the free end of the bail with said button. l

o A pendent switch, comprising a supporting block of non-conductingmaterial, two pairs of spring contacts supported on the block, alongitudinally movable plate guided on the block, said plate ofnon-conducting material, contact blocks on the plate movable into andout of engagement with the contacts, said supporting block having atransverse opening, a'bail pivotally supported in the walls of saidopening and at 00 its intermediatevportion engaging the plate,

a sliding button having longitudinal movement relative to the block andat one side thereof and having spaced relationship to the block, aspring connecting the free end of the bail with said button, a bracketfixed to said plate, and lugs on the bracket spaced apart and betweenwhich the bail has a. limited independent movement.

4c. A pendent switch, comprising a sup- 100 porting block of generalcylindrical formand of non-conducting material, a sliding plate ofnon-conducting material guided in its movement against one face of theblock,

a pair of spring contacts on the block having flared entrances into thespace between them, contact blocks onthe plate movable through saidentrances into engagement with the contacts when the plate is moved inone direction, terminals on theends of the supporting block electricallyconnected to said contacts, and a slide button having longitudinalmovement relative to the block and at one side thereof and having spacedrelationship to the block for moving said plate.

5. A pendent switch, comprising a supporting block of generalcylindrical form and of non-conducting material, a sliding plate ofnon-conductingl material guided in 120 its'movement against one face ofthe block, a palr of spring contacts on the block having flaredentrances into the space between them, contact blocks on the platemovable through said entrances into engagement with the contacts whenthe plate is moved in one direction, terminals on the ends of thesupporting block electrically connected to said contacts, a bailpivotally supported in the block and engaging the plate, a buttonsupporting 103l plate movable against the outer face of the block, aslide button having longitudinal movement relative to the block and atone side thereof and having spaced relationship to the block, a shank onthe slide button rojecting through said last-mentioned p ate, and acoiled spring connecting the shank and the free end of the bail.

6. A pendent switch, comprising a su" porting block, two pairs ofcontacts on t e supporting block, a sliding plate on the supportingblock, contact blocks on the plate movable into and out of engagementwith the first-mentioned contacts when vsaid plate is movedlongitudinally, a casing inclosing the supporting block, said casinghaving a longitudinal slot in one side thereof, a slide button on theoutside of the casing, a Shank on the button projected through saidslot, and means operatively connecting the shank with-the slide plate.

7. A pendent switch, comprising a supporting block, contacts on theblock adjacent the ends thereof and at one side Aof the block, ya casinginclosing` the block, a member carrying contacts adapted to be movedinto and out of engagement with the first'- mentoned contacts, andabutton projecting outside of the casing at one side thereof and movablelongitudinally of the casing and lperatively connected to said movablemem- WILLIAM DAN THROOP.

